Valve for controlled shuttle of liquid into microtiter plates and mixing

ABSTRACT

Valve assemblies are described that provide segmented shuttle of liquid into sample vessels and automatic mixing via bubbles in the segmented liquid. A valve assembly includes a first valve member having ports configured to receive a pressurized gas, a first fluid, and a second fluid. The valve assembly also includes a second valve member coupled adjacent to the first valve member. The second valve member comprises a plurality of channels configured to interface with the first valve member. In a first configuration, the first fluid is loaded into an external loop. In the second configuration, the second fluid is eluted from the column into a vial in a segmented stream via bubbles of pressurized gas. Bubbles of gas automatically mix the eluted sample fluid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/020,826, filed Jul. 3, 2014,and titled “VALVE FOR CONTROLLED SHUTTLE OF LIQUID INTO MICROTITERPLATES AND MIXING,” which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry is an analysis techniquecommonly used for the determination of trace element concentrations andisotope ratios in liquid samples. ICP spectrometry employselectromagnetically generated partially ionized argon plasma whichreaches a temperature of approximately 7,000K. When a sample isintroduced to the plasma, the high temperature causes sample atoms tobecome ionized or emit light. Since each chemical element produces acharacteristic mass or emission spectrum, measuring the spectra of theemitted mass or light allows the determination of the elementalcomposition of the original sample.

Sample introduction systems may be employed to introduce the liquidsamples into the ICP spectrometry instrumentation (e.g., an InductivelyCoupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP/ICP-MS), an Inductively CoupledPlasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES), or the like) foranalysis. For example, a sample introduction system may withdraw analiquot of a liquid sample from a container and thereafter transport thealiquot to a nebulizer that converts the aliquot into a polydisperseaerosol suitable for ionization in plasma by the ICP spectrometryinstrumentation. The aerosol is then sorted in a spray chamber to removethe larger aerosol particles. Upon leaving the spray chamber, theaerosol is introduced into the plasma by a plasma torch assembly of theICP-MS or ICP-AES instruments for analysis.

SUMMARY

Valve assemblies are described that provide segmented shuttle of liquidinto microtiter plates, and mixing of the liquid. A valve assemblyincludes a first valve member having ports configured to receive apressurized gas, a first fluid, and a second fluid. The valve assemblyalso includes a second valve member coupled adjacent to the first valvemember. The second valve member comprises a plurality of channelsconfigured to interface with the first valve member. In a firstconfiguration, the first fluid is loaded into an external loop. In thesecond configuration, the second fluid is eluted from the column into avial in a segmented stream via bubbles of pressurized gas. Bubbles ofgas automatically mix the eluted sample fluid.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

DRAWINGS

The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances inthe description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view illustrating a multiport flow valveassembly including a rotor, and a stator, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating a stator for a multiport flowvalve assembly in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the stator illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the stator illustrated in FIG.2.

FIG. 5A is a top plan view of a rotor for a multiport flow valveassembly in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of the rotorillustrated in 5A.

FIG. 5C is another partial cross-sectional side elevation view of therotor illustrated in 5A.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system including a multiportflow valve assembly, such as the multiport flow valve assemblyillustrated in FIG. 1, where the multiport flow valve assembly isarranged in a load configuration in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system including a multiportflow vale assembly, such as the multiport flow valve assemblyillustrated in FIG. 1, where the multiport flow valve assembly isarranged in an inject configuration in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system including a multiportflow valve assembly, such as the multiport flow valve assemblyillustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method for producing a segmented fluidstream, such as to provide mixing of the segmented fluid stream in asampling container, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Multiport valves are typically used to transport sample materials tolaboratory equipment for analysis. For example, multiport valves can beused to introduce liquid samples into ICP spectrometry instrumentationfor analysis. Multiport valves can also be used to load samples oncolumns for liquid and/or gas chromatography. Typical valves used inthese applications include six-port (6-port), two-position (2-position)rotary valves. Generally, two ports of a rotary valve are connected toan external (e.g., sample) loop, where one port is connected to a samplesource, and another port is connected to a carrier source. A furtherport can be connected to a vent (e.g., waste), with another portconnected to a nebulizer/column. When the valve is in a firstconfiguration, sample from the sample source flows through the sampleloop, while carrier from the carrier source flows directly to anebulizer/column. When the valve is rotated to a second configuration,the carrier source is connected to the sample loop for injecting thesample contained in the sample loop into the nebulizer or onto thecolumn. In some multiport valve configurations, one fluid is mixed withanother fluid by injecting the two fluids into separate ports of amultiport valve.

Valve assemblies are described that provide segmented shuttling ofliquid into microtiter plates and automatic mixing of the liquid. Inembodiments, a valve assembly includes a first valve member (e.g., astator) having a first port configured to receive a pressurized gas(e.g. argon, nitrogen, or other inert gas or mixture of gases), a secondport configured to connect to a vacuum or external loop (e.g., a sampleloop), a third port configured to receive a first fluid (e.g., a samplefluid), a fourth port configured to receive a second fluid (e.g., aneluted sample fluid) received from an input (e.g., a column), and afifth port configured to connect to a vent (e.g., waste). Inembodiments, the first port is connected to a channel. The valveassembly also includes a second valve member (e.g., a rotor) coupledadjacent to the first valve member. The second valve member comprises aplurality of channels configured to interface with the first valvemember so that the second port is connected to the third port and thefourth port is connected to the fifth port in a first configuration(e.g., a load configuration), and the third port is connected to thefourth port and the channel of the first port is connected to thechannel of the second valve member that connects the third and fourthports in a second configuration (e.g., an inject configuration). In thefirst (load) configuration, the first fluid is loaded into the externalloop. In the second (inject) configuration, the second fluid is elutedfrom the column into a sampling container sampling container (e.g.,microtiter plate, sample cup, vial) in a segmented stream viapressurized gas. Segmenting the stream of eluted sample allows forcontrolled delivery to sampling containers. Gas bubbles used to segmentthe stream also provide automatic mixing of the eluted sample fluid inthe sampling containers.

Example Implementations

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 through 7, a valve assembly 100 isdescribed. The valve assembly 100 includes a first valve member and asecond valve member coupled adjacent to the first valve member. Asshown, the valve assembly 100 can be configured as a rotary valveassembly having a first valve member comprising a stator 102 and asecond valve member comprising a rotor 104 coupled adjacent to thestator 102 so that it can rotate with respect to the stator 102. Itshould be noted that while the accompanying figures show the stator 102and the rotor 104 of the valve assembly 100, the valve assembly 100 mayalso include additional components, such as components for holding therotor 104 adjacent to the stator 102, and so forth. For example, thevalve assembly 100 may further include a drive configured to rotate therotor 104 and/or the stator 102, and a housing configured to support thestator 102 and/or the rotor 104 adjacent to the stator 102.

The stator 102 includes ports configured to connect to an external loop(e.g., a sample loop) and a vent (e.g., waste). The stator 102 isconfigured to receive a pressurized gas (e.g. argon, nitrogen, or otherinert gas or mixture of gases), a first fluid (e.g., a sample fluid),and a second fluid (e.g., an eluted sample fluid). The stator 102generally includes a first port 110, a second port 112, a third port114, a fourth port 116, and a fifth port 118. The first port 110 isconfigured to receive the pressurized gas, which can facilitatesegmenting a fluid via gas bubbles, as described herein. The second port112 is configured to connect to the external loop (e.g., sample loop).The third port 114 is configured to receive the first fluid (e.g.,sample fluid). The fourth port 116 is configured to receive the secondfluid (e.g., eluted sample fluid) from an input (e.g., a column, such asa preconcentration column, a cleanup column, or so forth). The fifthport 118 configured to connect to the vent. The stator 102 also includesa channel 120 connected to the first port 110 (e.g., as shown at leastin FIGS. 4, 6, and 7). The channel 120 facilitates passage of thepressurized gas received by port 110 to other portions of the valveassembly 100. For example, the channel 120 can introduce the pressurizedgas to a fluid flow that is transferred from the fourth port 116 to thethird port 114 via another channel, described further herein. Inimplementations, fluid flow to the ports of the stator 102 can becontrolled using an instrument such as a valve controller (not shown).

The rotor 104 includes channels configured to connect the sample loop tothe sample fluid in a first configuration (e.g., a load configuration)for charging the sample loop with the sample fluid, and to connect theeluted sample fluid to the pressurized gas via the valve assembly in asecond configuration (e.g., an inject configuration) for supplying asegmented stream of the eluted sample fluid into a sampling container(e.g., a microtiter plate, a sample cup, a sample vial, or so forth). Inimplementations, the pressurized gas received by the first port 110 andtransferred by channel 120 introduces one or more bubbles to fluid flowthat is transferred from the fourth port 116 to the third port 114 toform a segmented fluid stream, such as a segmented stream of the elutedsample fluid. The rotor 104 includes a first channel 122 and a secondchannel 124, which are configured for passage of fluids, where theorientation of the rotor 104 with respect to the stator 102 influencesthe interaction between the first channel 122 and the second channel 124with respect to the ports (e.g., the first port 110, the second port112, the third port 114, the fourth port 116, and the fifth port 118).For example, the first channel 122 is configured to connect the secondport 112 to the third port 114 in the first configuration (e.g., a loadconfiguration), and the second channel 124 is configured to connect thefourth port 116 to the fifth port 118 in the first configuration. In asecond configuration (e.g., an inject configuration), the second channel124 is configured to connect the third port 114 to the fourth port 116.In the second configuration, the channel 120 connected to the first port120 is in fluid communication with the second channel 124, where thesecond channel 124 is positioned to connect the third port 114 and theforth port 116 in the second configuration. For example, at least aportion of the channel 120 interacts with the second channel 124 suchthat pressurized gas received by the first port 110 can travel throughthe channel 120 and into the second channel 124 to segment the secondfluid (e.g., eluted sample fluid) traveling from the fourth port 116 tothe third port 114 via formation of one or more bubbles that separaterespective portions of the second fluid for form a segmented fluidstream 126. In implementations, the segmented fluid stream travels fromthe third port 114 to a sampling container 128 (e.g., a microtiterplate, a sample cup, a sample vial, or so forth), where bubbles presentin the segmented fluid stream, such as the bubbles introduced by thepressurized gas via channel 120) can mix the fluid within the samplingcontainer 128. In implementations, the sample loop can be loaded byvacuum, such as via connection of a vacuum to the second port 112. Inimplementations, the pressurized gas may comprise an inert gas, such asargon, nitrogen, and so forth, or a combination or mixture of gases. Insome embodiments, the fifth port 118 can be connected to a laboratoryanalysis device, such as an ICPMS or so forth. In these embodiments, thefourth port 116 can be connected to the fifth port 118 via the secondchannel 124 to furnish online elution of the sample fluid.

FIG. 8 illustrates that in some implementations, the valve assembly 100may be incorporated into a system in which at least one additionalmultiport flow valve is connected. For example, system 800 includes thevalve assembly 100 in fluid communication with a first multiport flowvalve 802 and a second multiport flow valve 804. The first multiportflow valve 802 and the second multiport flow valve 804 are in fluidcommunication with each other via a third multiport flow valve 806,which in turn can provide access to eluent fluid, internal standards,rinse agents, buffers, and so forth.

It should be noted that while the terms “stator” and “rotor” are usedherein to describe the first and second valve members, these terms areprovided by way of example only (e.g., to illustrate how thesecomponents interface (e.g., rotate) with respect to one another), andare not meant to limit how the valve members can be actuated withrespect to an external reference (e.g., valve mounting hardware, or thelike). Thus, in one particular example, a component described as a“stator” may remain substantially stationary (e.g., with respect to anexternal reference, such as valve mounting hardware), and a componentdescribed as a “rotor” may rotate with respect to the stator. However,in another particular example, a component described as a “stator” mayrotate with respect to a rotor, and a component described as a “rotor”may remain substantially stationary (e.g., with respect to valvemounting hardware). Further, in some implementations, both a componentdescribed as a “stator” and a component described as a “rotor” mayrotate with respect to an external reference.

Example Procedures

Referring now to FIG. 9, example techniques for producing a segmentedfluid stream, such as to provide mixing of the segmented fluid stream ina sampling container, are described.

FIG. 9 depicts a process 900, in an example implementation, forproducing a segmented fluid stream using, for example, the valveassembly 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and described above. In theprocess 900 illustrated, a sample fluid is received in a valve assembly(Block 902). For example, the third port 114 of the stator 102 canreceive the sample fluid. Process 900 also includes connecting a sampleloop to the sample fluid via the valve assembly in a first configurationfor charging the sample loop with the sample fluid (Block 904). Forexample, the first channel 122 can connect the third port 114 with thesecond port 112 to charge a sample loop with the sample fluid. FIG. 8depicts system 800 having a first sample loop 808 and a second sampleloop 810, either or both of which can be charged with a sample, such asa sample obtained via sample probe 812. Process 900 further includeseluting the sample fluid from the sample loop to the valve assembly(Block 906). For example, the sample can be eluted from the sample loopto the fourth port 116 of the valve assembly 100. Process 900 furtherincludes connecting the eluted sample fluid to a pressurized gas via thevalve assembly in a second configuration for segmenting the elutedsample fluid with at least one bubble of the pressurized gas to producea segmented eluted sample fluid (Block 908). For example, when the valveassembly 100 is the in second configuration, the second channel 124connects the fourth port 116 with the third port 114, and the channel120 of the stator 102 is in fluid communication with each of thepressurized gas (via the first port 102) and the second channel 124 tosegment the eluted fluid traveling from the fourth port 116 to the thirdport 114 with bubbles of the pressurized gas. Process 900 furtherincludes supplying the segmented eluted sample fluid into a samplingcontainer (Block 910). For example, the segmented eluted sample canleave the valve assembly 100 via the third port 114 to be deposited inthe sampling container 128, whereby the bubbles used to segment theeluted sample automatically mix the eluted sample within the samplingcontainer 128.

CONCLUSION

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or process operations, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve assembly comprising: a first valve memberhaving a first port configured to connect to a pressurized gas, achannel connected to the first port, a second port configured to connectto at least one of an external loop or vacuum, a third port configuredto connect to a sample fluid, a fourth port configured to connect to aneluted sample fluid, and a fifth port configured to connect to at leastone of waste or an online elution; and a second valve member coupledadjacent the first valve member and having at least a first channel anda second channel configured to interface with the first valve member sothat the second port is connected to the third port via the firstchannel in a first configuration and the fourth port is connected to thefifth port via the second channel in the first configuration, the thirdport is connected to the fourth port via the second channel in a secondconfiguration, and the channel connected to the first port is in fluidcommunication with the second channel connecting the third port and thefourth port in the second configuration for supplying the pressurizedgas to the eluted sample fluid to provide a segmented fluid.
 2. Thevalve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first configurationcomprises a load configuration and the second configuration comprises aninject configuration.
 3. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1,wherein the first valve member comprises a stator and the second valvemember comprises a rotor coupled adjacent to the stator.
 4. The valveassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the external loop comprises asample loop.
 5. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein thepressurized gas is at least one of argon gas or nitrogen gas.
 6. Thevalve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the fifth port isconnected to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
 7. Thevalve assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the third port isconnected to a sampling container when in the second configuration.
 8. Avalve assembly comprising: a first valve member having a first portconfigured to connect to a pressurized gas, a channel connected to thefirst port, a second port configured to connect to at least one of anexternal loop or vacuum, a third port configured to connect to a samplefluid, a fourth port configured to connect to an eluted sample fluid,and a fifth port configured to connect to at least one of waste or anonline elution; and a second valve member rotatably coupled respectiveto the first valve member and configured to transition between at leasta first configuration and a second configuration, the second valvemember having at least a first channel and a second channel configuredto interface with the first valve member so that the second port isconnected to the third port via the first channel in the firstconfiguration and the fourth port is connected to the fifth port via thesecond channel in the first configuration, the third port is connectedto the fourth port via the second channel in the second configuration,and at least a portion of the channel of the first valve member isconnected to the second channel connecting the third port and the fourthport in the second configuration for supplying the pressurized gas tothe eluted sample fluid to provide a segmented fluid.
 9. The valveassembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first configurationcomprises a load configuration and the second configuration comprises aninject configuration.
 10. The valve assembly as recited in claim 8,wherein the first valve member comprises a stator and the second valvemember comprises a rotor coupled adjacent to the stator.
 11. The valveassembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the external loop comprises asample loop.
 12. The valve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein thepressurized gas is at least one of argon gas or nitrogen gas.
 13. Thevalve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the fifth port isconnected to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
 14. Thevalve assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the third port isconnected to a sampling container when in the second configuration.